Awards and Honors
2012 Big Ten Outdoor Track Athlete of the Championships
2012 Big Ten Indoor and Outdoor Freshman of the Year
2012 Illinois Female Newcomer of the Year
Holds six Illinois school records

About Ashley
Spencer exploded on the national and international scene in 2012 as she became the first freshman to win the NCAA 400m title since Sanya Richards-Ross in 2003. While many expected her to be a strong contender for the U.S. Olympic team, Spencer and her coach decided to focus on the World Junior Championships, and she went on to win 400m gold in Barcelona to become only the third American to do so. In 2013 Spencer earned her first trip to the World Outdoor Championships thanks to a third place finish at the USA Outdoor Championships. The trip earned her a silver in the 4x400m relay. Spencer was a 12-time individual state champion in high school and was named Ms. Track and Field of Indiana before enrolling at Illinois. Spencer comes from an athletic family, most notably, her uncle Steve Smith was the runner up at the 1999 USA Indoor Championships in the high jump.